Colour grading on iPhone
Last updated 2 June 2026
Colour grading sets the mood of an image by tinting its tonal ranges separately: a cool shadow, a warm highlight, a neutral midtone. The classic controls are Lift, Gamma, and Gain (shadows, midtones, highlights). On the iPhone, EditMe has a three-way grading tool, part of the free editor, that runs entirely on the device.
Lift, Gamma, Gain explained
Lift tints the shadows, Gamma the midtones, and Gain the highlights, each as an independent colour push. A global offset tints the whole image. Grading by range is how a photo gets a consistent look, teal shadows with warm skin, or a cool filmic evening, without a single slider flattening everything at once.
Grading in EditMe
EditMe gives you Lift, Gamma, Gain, and a global offset, each an independent colour adjustment for shadows, midtones, highlights, and the whole frame. It works on colour images, runs on the device with no network, and is non-destructive. The grading tool is part of the free editor. The app is free to start, and EditMe Pro is an optional subscription for deeper editor extras such as the tone curve.
How it compares
| What you can do | EditMe grading | One tint slider |
|---|---|---|
| Tint shadows on their own (Lift) | Yes | No |
| Tint midtones on their own (Gamma) | Yes | No |
| Tint highlights on their own (Gain) | Yes | No |
| Global tint across the frame (Offset) | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on device, nothing uploaded | Yes | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
What is colour grading?
Shaping the mood of an image by tinting its tonal ranges, typically tinting shadows, midtones, and highlights separately with Lift, Gamma, and Gain.
Can I colour grade on iPhone?
Yes. EditMe has a three-way grading tool (Lift, Gamma, Gain, plus a global offset) that runs on the device. It is part of the free editor.
What is the difference between grading and a single tint?
A single tint pushes the whole image one way. Grading tints shadows, midtones, and highlights independently, so you can pair a cool shadow with a warm highlight.
Is EditMe free?
EditMe is free to start, and basic editing, film-negative inversion, and the three-way grading tool all work without paying. EditMe Pro is an optional subscription for deeper editor extras such as the tone curve.